Who can send Alerts, what are they and how can you control them?

Who can send Alerts?

The Neighbourhood Alert system is a large, highly secure database that allows various organisations to link and communicate with registered users across Nottinghamshire. These organisations include Nottinghamshire Police, Neighbourhood Watch and other public organisations. They cannot automatically see your details or send you information. You have to give specific permission in order for them to be able to see your details and send you Alerts. You can also withdraw this permission instantly and control your own priority settings for Alerts.

What are the Alerts for?

Alerts are sent predominantly by email and, on request, can be delivered by text or recorded or automated voice message to your landline or mobile telephone. Alerts are primarily sent to alert you to crime in your area or particular threats that you should be aware of, or information about public safety or other issues affecting your community that you should be aware of. Neighbourhood Watch may wish to send information regarding crime trends in your area, emerging issues or to let you know about meetings. Business Watch may send messages through the system to other members of the same watch to alert members to particular issues.

How can I stay in control?

You are in charge of how, when and what messages are sent to you: the simple tools allow you to choose what method of delivery is used for an Alert depending on what time of day it is. You can stop all Alerts with one click or you can simply raise the priority level that you are prepared to accept.

Choose what priority of message you are prepared to receive

The Message Setting tools allow you to control what priority level an Alert would have to be in order for it to be delivered to you. You can choose to receive only Priority 1 or 2 messages (for example, disaster warnings) or elect to receive Priority 5 messages and above (all Alerts). When you first join, the default configuration is set to Priority 5 and will deliver text messages or voice calls (if you do not enter a mobile number) between the hours of 8am and 8pm only.

The message settings also allow you to choose to receive a copy of all your Alerts by email, a copy will also be placed in your own Message Archive which is available to you when you log in.

Various organisations, including Nottinghamshire Police and Neighbourhood Watch, are able to send information to you but ONLY if you authorise them to communicate with you by ticking the appropriate boxes. Alerts are usually sent out to users within certain geographical areas relating to the information being distributed.